7 Kythorn 1479

We have arrived in Waterdeep and by all the gods I have never seen the like. I can only hope I'm not looking too much the rustic bumpkin, but I strongly suspect I need only the field hat and a straw stuck between my teeth to confirm the impression. Ah well, can't blame a fellow for trying anyway.

We got here this morning and Gwyneth led us straight to her brother-in-law's jewelry shop. Hannes Silverman and his wife, Glyn (Gwyneth's sister), run a pretty successful business, looks like. They put us up in nice rooms and said they had a party for us planned for tonight. Allyson look a bit alarmed (naturally) but I pointed out that I, at least, had packed her a dress. Being the nice guy I am I declined to mention that since I was the who picked it out it would actually look good. heh.

We had the rest of the day free to explore the city. We started by following our noses just next door to the bakery. The fellow behind the counter was a burly half-orc - and by that I mean burly FOR a half-orc - who was pleased to offer us such things as gnome legs, orc claws, deva ears and elf noses (they always point up) - though I pointed out that true of eladrin more than elves. He liked my suggestion for halfling toes, but wasn't sure how to handle the hair, but I trust he'll figure something out. He scared poor Gnf nearly into invisibility by leaning over the counter and demanding - in full orc bellow - if he didn't like the pastries? Then he started laughing and chatting with the rest of us. Sigh, orc humor, you gotta love it - largely because they'll hurt you if you don't. Allyson liked him. I have to admit, intimidation as customer service is different. But then his wife came out and scolded him and things moved into a more normal experience. They did have honey cakes, good ones even, but not a patch on Mom's.

Following the stuffing of faces with baked goods, we all headed off to see the sights. Gnf headed for the library and Max decided to hit a tavern and Allyson headed off with him - letting ME off the leash!!! Yey, it's a miracle. Mindful of that, I went straightaway to find a temple to Mielikki and it proved to be something of a chore. Not much in the way of greenery in this city. Amazing buildings - I even saw one that I swear was larger than the Moorbridge caravanserai entire, outbuildings included - and paved streets and folks in all manner of strange and fancy clothing, but...well, I like it and I like watching all this, but I damn sure wouldn't want to live here with next to no trees or grass or even crops. Anyway, I finally found it, a small building tucked in a back street with nothing more than a few small trees in front. Better than nothing, at least. I went in, donated a gold - they sure looked like they needed it far more than me - and said my prayers. Made me feel a little better, less out of place, but I'm sure I still looked a fair idiot wandering the streets with my jaw scraping the ground.

That done, I followed up on my next task. Seeing as I have - finally! - reached Waterdeep, and thereby a city big enough to have a temple to Sune, I went to pay my respects. Hey, it's only taken me 3 years and change.... Found the temple fairly easily, Sune is a lot more popular here than Mielikki and boasts a fine, large marble temple - as impressive within as without. I think the word I want is sumptuous. I found the offering box and donated a silver for a prayer in memory of my father. Maybe I should have paid more, I don't know, but silver matched the chain, so it seemed...I dunno, fitting? Anyhow, then I gawked a bit - the more so as the priestesses (and the priests as best as I can judge) seem chosen for their pretty faces. After a bit, one approached me (lovely girl, well, woman, with big brown eyes) and asked if I was there to try the "love leap". Sure sounded interesting so I asked what it was and she explained and I guess it's a test, sort of, if who you're with is your true love - seemed awful shaky to me, I mean, if you aren't sure, isn't that kinda proof that it isn't? I declined as I'm not with anyone and she brightened up (I'd like to think that was for my being available, but I'm not so good a liar as THAT) and said then what I wanted was the "draw" for guidance. Guidance, naturally, being only as good as the devotion (ie, donation) behind it. But, I figure, what the hell, it is Sune's area, after all and it can't hurt - 1 gold isn't that much and I can always make more. So I chipped in and she led me to a big...well, cauldron of sorts for me to dip my hand into and pull something out and then she just stood there expectantly - and closely watching. Damned thing was deep AND up on a pedestal so I was pretty much on tip-toe trying to get my hand in to reach anything - y'know, a city like this has plenty of dwarves, gnomes, halflings and full-blood elves, you'd think they'd make allowances for height, or lack of it - but I managed and as soon as my fingers touched something I snagged it and pulled it out. She favored me with an approving (and dazzling) smile, apparently trusting to faith instead of rooting about in there is the right move. What I pulled out looked at first like your ordinary pebble, that drab grey-brown shade, but I took a closer look, since there had to be beauty in there somewhere and found pretty vein of crystal that not only gave that stripe of color through it, but the purplish streak made the rest of the grey-brown sorta glow warm, making it actually a nice color. A pretty stone, but subtle, you gotta look for it, I like that. I thanked the priestess and tucked the stone away and headed out to find that tavern and enjoy the sights along the way.

I stopped just outside the tavern long enough to rumple my clothes a bit and muss my hair - a visit to Sune's temple offers so much in the way of twitting Allyson, you can't expect me to pass it up. Max had wedged himself into a corner and Allyson sat next to him, enjoying herself and every so often elbowing him and sniggering. Poor guy must be solid bruises. Gnf was seated nearby looking lost in thought - apparently the library was a joy to him and his guide imparted some secrets to him, which he promptly started to tell me, until I shut him up. Smart man, Gnf, but not too savvy.

The source of Allyson's amusement was Max's "destiny". Apparently some old fellow had swept in, looking like those crazy hermits who're always spouting off like they're diviners or what-not, and gone straight up to Max and declared that he'd must've been fighting undead. Interesting conversational opener, but then Max is near as bad as Allyson on the whole "you need to bathe" thing. Then he announced that Max had a destiny - and he knew this because his invisible dog told him. Ok, he didn't call it that, he just gestured at a space the right height and refused an ale for it because dogs don't drink ale - I've a few hounds back home he needs to meet to relearn that fact. He also asked if Max and Allyson were lovers - Allyson slipped that one in sly enough, makes me wonder if she meant to be putting me on, and it worked, dammit. I think - I hope - I kept my face straight and my voice level, but I couldn't stop myself from asking if they were. (I mean, she'd left me to do whatever I wanted and hied off to the tavern with him right off. A disturbing thought.) Allyson shook her head, while Max murmured that he hadn't even bought him a drink. Heh, quiet fellow, sneaky humor, I think I'm really gonna like that boy. At length we headed back to the shop for the party. I reminded Allyson that she did need to bathe before dressing, but I managed to duck the blow - she must've had too much ale, she's not usually so slow. Just as we arrived back we noticed a little set-to at Oleg's bakery. A bunch of fellows in black robes - horn and hoof, how melodramatic can you get? - were trying to intimidate him. Melodramatic and stupid, lovely. Needless to say they got no change out of Oleg, but it was disturbing.

The party was...well, gosh, straight out of a tale. Glittering table settings, goblets of jewel-colored wine, table linens so bleached they're blinding, dazzling candles...amazing. The head of the jeweler's guild, an eladrin named Eldreth Deepwater gave a sort of set-speech to open things, explaining why he'd taken on the name of Deepwater. He essentially named himself after the town in honor of it's reputation as a place where all races were equally welcomed and he has a strong belief in that ideal, so he took the name as symbolic and all. He also, far more to the point, brought his daughter with him. Melia. Pretty girl, an especially graceful arch to her ears, and grown...mostly. Also there were Alden Goldsmith and Ches Silverman, Hannes's brother. Ches is a sergeant in the city guard and said we were welcome to join anytime, just come talk to him. Then they handed over a number of lovely - and way too valuable - gifts and in just such a way as you can't refuse without insulting them. It's good stuff and I like it and we need it, but I still feel like... I dunno, like I'm ... Oh, like a battle of wits with Bardon, it's beyond cheating, it's totally unfair, he's unarmed, see? Anyway, there was something nicely tailored for each of us - I picked up a nice amulet with some protective magic about it. After that, we turned to actual partying. I produced my pipes and started on a set of songs of all types before letting someone else entertain so I could catch my breath and have a drink. Whilst I sat in my corner resting, Melia approached me wanting more tunes. I suggested that I would trade her a tune for a kiss. She's a bit over-serious - well and aren't eladrin usually - and seemed a bit displeased, but she screwed up her face and finally leaned forward to give me a peck on the cheek. I traded her a tune, fair's fair and managed to control a snigger at Allyson's glower, though thankfully Eldreth wasn't paying attention. Max got cornered by Alden and didn't seem to enjoy it much, but I don't think he ever enjoys talking much. Amidst all the gossip a few rumors floating about. A rumor about a great kobold leader uniting the tribes and amassing legions of kobold warriors - yeah, as if. A rumor - or perhaps a set fact - that a new lode was found in the Nether Mountains, which was going to put even more pressure on the caravans, especially since the accident to the portals. We asked and apparently portals are malfunctioning - shipments being lost, folks going through and coming back....eventually and apparently somewhat changed or such. They said this started maybe a week ago or so - so long after the big magic blow-out that killed the mythal-portals, so who knows?

A long day, but a lot of fun.

Allyson and Max can't actually be lovers, can they?